Surrey’s Pivot Theatre has an award-winning play in “Perfect Arrangement,” about gay couples posing straight.
The Newton-based theatre company first staged the comedy-drama in April, and on Saturday (May 27) it was named Outstanding Production at Theatre BC’s Fraser Valley Zone awards night in Chilliwack.
Adjudicated by Stephen Drover, Pivot’s production also earned awards for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Female Role (shared by Beck Marie as Millie, Brittany Vesterback as Norma), Outstanding Director (Kayt Roth) and Backstage Co-operation Award (given to cast and crew).
Winning the Fraser Valley Zone festival means “Perfect Arrangement” will be performed during Theatre BC’s Mainstage festival, held this year at Surrey Arts Centre from July 11-16. Details are posted on theatrebc.org/mainstage-2023.
Pivot’s production is the Canadian debut of Topher Payne’s play, set during the ‘Lavender Scare’ of the 1950s when there was a moral panic about homosexual people in the U.S. government, leading to mass dismissal.
“The play was so well received,” said Margaret Shearman, Pivot’s artistic director. “The adjudicator was saying this is a story that needs to be heard by more people, and that’s what our audiences have told us as well, so it’s nice to know we’re on the right track. We’re really lucky that we get to play it again.”
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
In “Perfect Arrangement,” the scene is a dinner party, where couples Bob and Millie and Norma and Jim host boss Theodore and his wife Kitty, where Theodore announces that the next “bold step” in service for Bob and Norma will be routing homosexuals out of the State Department.
Problem is that “Bob and Millie” and “Norma and Jim” are actually Bob and Jim and Millie and Norma, two gay couples who have married as heterosexuals to avoid scrutiny. They are then conflicted between continuing to fly under the radar to protect themselves, and carrying out their jobs working for the government.
Meantime, Pivot’s new youth theatre program is now up and running. DebuTheatre is designed for those 30 years and younger to get hands-on learning of all things theatre.
Founded in 2021, Pivot Theatre “celebrates our community’s diversity by presenting a wide range of content and shows,” according to a post on pivottheatre.ca/about. “We welcome everyone to join us and explore the arts in a safer place.”
This week the company stages “Drag Out Your Friends,” a family-friendly drag performance Tuesday, June 6 at Royal Oak Restaurant (15336 Fraser Hwy). Tickets are $45 for the fundraiser. Dinner reservations are available starting at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 6.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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